Tyler County, West Virginia    Biography of James W. WILSON

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Submitted by Valerie Crook, <vfcrook@earthlink.net>, July 1999
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The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., 
Chicago and New York, Volume III,pg. 173-174


JAMES W. WILSON has been a prominent oil well contrac-
tor and operator in several fields of West Virginia during
the past quarter of a century. He began his operations in
the Sistersville District, but for a number of years past
has made his home and headquarters at Weston, where his
qualities as a business man and citizen are thoroughly appre-
ciated and have gained him high esteem.

Mr. Wilson was born in what is now West Punxsutawney,
Pennsylvania, January 25, 1865, son of Capt. John Garner
and Amanda P. (Winslow) Wilson. In the maternal line
he represents the distinguished Colonial family of Winslow,
the recorded lineage of which in England runs back to
William Winslow, who lived in the fourteenth century. A
later generation was represented by Kenelm Winslow, a
brother of the famous Edward Winslow, one of the founders
of the Pilgrim Colony in Massachusetts and governor of that
colony. This Kenelm Winslow had a son, Lieutenant Job,
whose son was James; and James had a son James. The
last named James had a son named Carpenter, born May
22, 1766, and died November 19, 1827, at Punxsutawney,
Pennsylvania. His children were Charles, George, Carpen-
ter, Jr., David, Reuben, James, Ebenezer, Caleb and Joseph.
Of these James Winslow was the maternal grandfather of
James W. Wilson. His children were named Miller, Mary,
Amanda, Lydia, Adelia, Charles, Oscar and Martha.
Amanda Winslow was born October 12, 1825, at Punxsu-
tawney Pennsylvania, was reared there and became the wife
of Capt. John Garner Wilson.

Capt. John Garner Wilson was born near Bennington, Ver-
mont, and as a young man removed to Pennsylvania. Octo-
ber 23, 1861, he enlisted as a Union soldier, and was em-
ployed in recruiting duty, and raised several companies for
Pennsylvania regiments. He also took part in the battle
of Pollocks Mills before Fredericksburg April 28, 1863. He
was at Chancellorsville May 2, 1863, where his company
occupied a position exposed to the heavy fire of Confederate
sharpshooters.  He was mustered out and discharged
August 14 1863, but re-enlisted and for one year was cap-
tain of Company B of the Seventy-fourth Pennsylvania In-
fantry. He received his last honorable discharge at Har-
risburg, Pennsylvania, March 14, 1865, returning to civilian
pursuits with an enviable record as a brave and resourceful
soldier and officer.

After his marriage Captain Wilson located at Brookville,
Pennsylvania. He was a republican in politics. Captain
Wilson and wife had the following children: Mary, Frank,
Lydia, Charles, Alonzo and James W.

James W. Wilson remained at home until he was eighteen.
After he left home he spent three years in Nebraska, work-
ing in stores and on ranches. He then returned to Penn-
sylvania, and soon afterward connected himself with the
oil industry. In 1895 he went into the Sistersville field
of West Virginia, and later Parkersburg.  In the fall
of 1900 he moved his home to Weston and became a con-
tractor for oil wells. He is still in the contract business
and also is interested in the production of oil and gas.
Mr. Wilson owns a half interest in over six hundred acres
of farm land in Lewis County, and is a prominent stock-
man and a member of the Lewis County Farm Bureau. He
is interested in gas. electric light and ice plants and is a
stockholder in the National Exchange Bank of Weston.

In May, 1901, at Parkersburg, he married May A.
Hughes. They have three sons: James W., Jr., born No-
vember 8, 1903, and a graduate of the Weston High School;
Hughes W., born in 1907; and George S., born in 1913.
Fraternally Mr. Wilson is affiliated with Phoenix Lodge
No. 73, A. F. and A. M., at Sistersville, with Jerusalem
Chapter No. 3, R. A. M., at Parkersburg, Cavalry Com-
mandery No. 3, K. T., at Parkersburg, Lodge of Perfec-
tion of the Scottish Rite at Parkersburg and West Virginia
Consistory No. 1 at Wheeling. In politics he is a stanch
republican.